You suggested last week that the cosmetics industry has urged the European Commission to delay a ban on the marketing of products that contain ingredients tested on animals (“Borg's animal-testing stance causes concern”, 22-28 November). This is not the case.

The cosmetics industry is not seeking to delay the ban, which comes into force in March 2013. It is fully committed to ending animal testing.

At issue, rather, is the reality that in some areas difficulties remain and will persist beyond March. To meet existing and future health and safety demands, the technology needs to be further developed.

The cosmetics regulation recognised that the technology to replace all animal tests might not be in place by March 2013 and allowed for this eventuality. The reason why the industry is concerned about Tonio Borg, Malta’s European commissioner for health and consumer protection, is that he made clear to the European Parliament that he does not accept the approach set out in the regulation.

In so doing, Mr Borg played to the gallery. His position is at odds with the scientific reality. Such an approach will not benefit animal welfare.

We are also concerned about what this episode says about his attitude to innovation. Advancing animal welfare requires innovation. Breakthroughs cannot be guaranteed to arrive to a timetable. The approach implied by Mr Borg would remove much of the motivation to continue research, and potentially renders much current work redundant. Removing incentives will not advance the EU’s commitment to eliminating animal testing.

This industry will not walk away from its responsibility. The cosmetics industry has demonstrated its commitment to innovation to end animal testing. It has been the engine of research to identify, develop and validate alternatives to animal testing. It has undertaken major multi-annual research projects, several of them jointly executed with the European Commission. In fact, no other industrial sector in Europe has demonstrated such substantial and tangible support for an end to animal testing. Without this investment, the EU would not hold its pre-eminent position in the drive to eliminate animal testing.